The Sloth Zone, page 19
Mel suddenly interjected, “Gemma, the date on this letter is from last week, before you were officially back with us.”
“What?” She grabbed the paper from Mel’s hands and skimmed its contents. “It is.” She swallowed hard. “That means the company had already made its decision on me before our meeting. Maybe there is a way I can fight this.”
Mel and Fernando nodded.
“It’s worth a shot. I’ll start looking up a couple different lawyers tonight when we get into the hotel,” Mel said.
“Lawyers?”
“Yes. It’s going to take a legal heavyweight to be able to fight a company like DOI,” Mel emphasized.
Gemma could see dollar and pound signs floating in front of her eyes. It would be a long and drawn-out process. Taking a deep breath, she looked at Mel and Fernando. “No, I’m done with DOI. It’s not worth the time, energy, expense, or heartbreak. I doubt it’ll even make a difference. At this point, I’d rather cut my losses, make a clean break, and just figure out what comes next.”
Fernando hugged her tightly. “My little Gemma-rella has grown up. That’s the most adult thing I think I’ve ever heard you say.”
“Are you sure, Gem? You probably won’t be the first or the last person DOI decides to ruthlessly cut like this.” Mel lowered her voice. “There’s definitely something fishy going on behind the scenes. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like this at all.” She pinched her lips together. “It’s my fault you went to see Dr. Zhang. I should go and set the record straight.”
“Mel, I appreciate it, but no. It’s like you said, nothing will change their mind. This is bigger than me.” Gemma took a moment to gather her thoughts. “If you catch word of any other skaters who are put through the same paces as me, let me know and I’ll consider taking legal action, but until we know more, I’d prefer not to do anything else.”
Fernando and Mel promised her that they would.
* * *
Gemma should have been angry, but instead, she found that she was eerily calm. As she walked through the hotel lobby later that evening, the sound of Burl Ives’s classic rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” played over the sound system. White, green, and pink Christmas trees trimmed with colorful lights and baubles filled the space.
As she turned the corner to take the lift to her room, she stopped to admire the sight of families queuing to meet Father Christmas. Children bounced up and down on their toes, anxious for their turn. Seeing the excitement on their little faces instantly lifted her mood. There were at least still some places in the world where magic existed.
Suddenly, there was a gentle tug on one of her sleeves. “Cinderella?” a girl with wide blue eyes asked.
Gemma was still dressed in a light-blue dress with a black jacket thrown over it. She was so distracted, she forgot to change before leaving the arena. She’d have to have somebody sneak this back tomorrow. She couldn’t leave the company any excuse to accuse her of stealing.
Gemma’s heart melted and she knelt down on one knee. “Hi there. What’s your name?”
“I’m Ava.”
“Ava, that’s a lovely name. It sounds like the perfect name for a princess like you.”
The little girl giggled. “I told Mommy that I saw you, but she didn’t believe me. I had to come and tell you that you’re my favorite princess.”
“Well, I’m so happy to hear that.” Noticing suddenly that Ava was alone, she said, “Where is your mum?”
Ava pointed to the end of the queue for Father Christmas. A woman with a rounded belly chatted with another woman with a double stroller ahead of her. She hadn’t noticed that her daughter, who Gemma guessed to be about five years old, had gone missing.
“How about we tell your mum you found me and then maybe we can take a photo together.”
“Yes, princess.”
Holding her hand, Gemma walked Ava over to her mother. “Do you really have glass slippers? Mommy said they’re only make believe.”
“I do, but can you keep a secret?”
Ava solemnly nodded.
“My fairy godmother keeps them for me.”
Her little eyes widened.
“Ava! Did you run off after I told you not to?”
“But Mommy, look, I found Cinderella!”
“I can see that, but it’s more important that you know better than to run off and talk to strangers,” Ava’s mother huffed. Her gaze turned to Gemma. “Thank you for finding her and bringing her back to me. I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”
“She wasn’t,” Gemma promised. “I was just on my way up to my room.”
“We just saw you skate today. You were lovely.”
“Oh, thank you so much.”
“Mommy?”
“Yes, Ava?”
“Can we take our picture together now?”
Ava’s mother shot her a “would you mind” look. Gemma signaled for Ava to come stand next to her.
“On the count of three. One, two, and three.” Her mother took the photo. “What do we say?”
“Thank you!” Ava said, then launched her arms around Gemma’s legs. “Is your prince around here too?”
“Oh, um . . . I don’t know. I’ll have to send one of my mice to see if they can find him.”
Ava giggled again. “Or maybe you can send your fairy godmother.”
“That’s a brilliant idea too.” Gemma winked. “Don’t forget our secret.”
“I won’t.”
Gemma smiled, then turned to Ava’s mother and exchanged a few words with her as the clock in the lobby chimed seven times.
“Wow!” Ava suddenly exclaimed. “Cinderella, is that your carriage? I thought it was made of glass. Can I have a ride? Are the horses really mice?”
The adults both stopped talking. Looking out the front glass doors of the lobby, they noticed a horse-drawn carriage stopping in front. A bride in a flowing white ballgown stepped out, followed by a groom.
“Ava, that’s not hers. Do you see the woman in the wedding gown? She’s getting married.”
Gemma, however, didn’t hear the rest of what was being said. Her attention was focused on the tall man in a tan overcoat and brown hair pulling off a pair of gloves while entering the lobby. Under his other arm, he carried a large bouquet of flowers. He checked his mobile. She’d know him anywhere.
“Tim,” she called out, awkwardly half waving her hand.
His head shot up. Smiling, he returned her wave and walked toward her.
“Boyfriend?” Ava’s mom asked.
Gemma nodded, her eyes not leaving his person. She’d forgotten just how handsome he was. Had it only been a week and a half since she’d last seen him? The overcoat fit his body like a second skin, hugging him in all the right places.
“We won’t keep you, then. It looks like you two have plans. Come, Ava, it’s almost time to meet Santa. Say thank you and goodbye to Cinderella.”
“Bye, princess. And thank you again!” Ava and her mother moved up in line. “Mommy, did you bring the cookies and milk? And my letter?”
“I brought cookies and your letter, but remember, we aren’t giving Santa any milk in case he’s allergic. Don’t forget, last year he told you he was lactose intolerant.”
With each step Tim took, Gemma’s pulse increased. Butterflies fluttered their wings so quickly that it reminded her of performing a spin on the ice.
“Hi,” she managed as he stopped right in front of her. “You’re, er . . . here.”
“These are for you.” Fumbling with flowers, he shoved them in front of him.
Gemma accepted the flowers and sniffed them. “These are stunning. Thank you so much.” They were a bouquet of pink, red, and white roses. The smell reminded her of an expensive bottle of her favorite Jo Malone Red Roses perfume.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see your text message until just now.”
“You just received it?”
He nodded.
“Then how did you know how badly I needed to see you?”
“I didn’t. It’s just a coincidence. I flew into Toledo this afternoon to surprise you.” Tim rubbed the back of his neck. “Watching you this afternoon was the first time I’ve ever seen you skate. What you can do on that tiny metal blade is just amazing! You were hands down the best skater on that ice. I’d planned to meet you at the stage door at the arena, but you never came out.”
“That’s on me.” Gemma’s cheeks warmed. “I had one final treatment with Mel, our PT. I was one of the last skaters to leave. I must’ve just missed you.”
“That’s what I figured when I ran into Fernando. That’s how I knew where to find you.”
Her face fell. “Well, I’m glad you were able to see today’s skate. It was my last.”
“Huh?”
“It’s kind of a long story.” She glanced over her outfit. “Um, tell you what, let me put these flowers in my room and change. I’ll meet you back down here in five minutes.”
“Okay.” Tim nodded. “What do you think about going for a walk? It looked like there were some charming festive lights on Main Street we can check out.”
“I’d like that.”
Rising up onto her toes, she kissed him, then left the room.
Chapter 24
It wasn’t cold enough to snow, but the air was still a brisk chill. Gemma pulled the zipper of her black puffer coat up higher. Despite being from Scotland, and a figure skater, she still would never be a fan of cold weather.
As she walked with Tim through Promenade Park, an area across the street from the hotel, the distant sounds of a brass band playing classic carols filled the air.
“The hotel concierge mentioned that the tree lighting is at nine,” Tim said. “If you can spare some the time, I thought maybe we could stroll past the market stalls, grab a bite to eat, then circle back here to watch it?”
“That sounds brilliant. I’m a free woman. I have all the time in the world.”
“Gemma?”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Dreams on Ice terminated my contract this afternoon.”
He abruptly stopped walking. “What?”
She lowered her chin, staring at the sidewalk. The reality of the situation was beginning to take hold. “I’m a skater who is, in their words, ‘past their prime.’ They don’t have a use for a skater who ‘can’t meet the standards set by the company.’” Saying those words aloud left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“How is it that a person who is only twenty-eight can be past their prime? What cockamamie person told you that?”
“A caseworker from HR.” Gemma sighed. “In a way, she was right. Most skaters peak before they turn eighteen.”
Tim huffed. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. What about people like Frankie and Charlie? They’re not teens. They’re both mature skaters in their early thirties.”
Gemma’s gaze traveled to Tim’s face. The lines around his eyes and brow made him appear more distinguished. He’s kind of adorable when he’s angry on my behalf.
“They’re both an exception to the rule.”
“I don’t understand. You were under a contract with them through the end of the year. It’s the second week in December. How does it make any sense to let you go now? What about giving you notice?”
Gemma explained how the situation had been exacerbated by her visits to Dr. Zhang and how the date on her termination letter had been preset.
“That doesn’t sound right.”
“My friends Mel and Fernando didn’t think so either.”
“Do you want me to phone one of the lawyers the Sloths use? Mike wouldn’t mind. He owes me a favor.”
Gemma shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I’d like to distance myself from DOI as much as possible. I’m angry and beyond frustrated, and it’ll just be easier for me to move on without opening Pandora’s box.”
Tim pinched his lips together and enveloped her in a hug. The scratchy fabric of his overcoat rubbed against her cheeks. “You’re too good of a person.”
As he released her and they continued their walk, the scent of evergreen trees and freshly-roasted nuts filled the air. The enticing smells from a cart selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, and popcorn caught her attention.
“Do you mind if we stop for a hot drink? I need something warm,” she said.
“Whatever my Gemma-rella wishes.”
They joined the queue.
“How did you get extra time off? I thought you had to be back on Monday?”
“I called in a favor from my school principal. He’s subbing for me through Wednesday. Let’s just say, I’ll be heading the event-planning committee for the foreseeable future.”
“The end of the school year will be here before you know it.” Gemma blinked a few times. “Then you’ll be packing everything up and moving to Scottsdale.”
“No, I won’t. I’ll be staying right where I belong . . . in Sequoia Valley.”
Gemma gasped. “But the manager’s job—that’s your dream job, isn’t it?”
“At one point it was.” He shoved his hands into his pocket. “But that ship has sailed. I was about eighty percent sure I didn’t want it. I needed to visit Scottsdale to be totally certain.”
“What tipped you over the edge?”
They advanced a few places in the queue.
“The vibe. It was like I’d entered a time warp. The current group of guys on the team are all young and eager. They wanted to go out every night and stay up into the early hours of the morning. That isn’t my idea of fun. I wanted to go back to the hotel and enjoy a night in. I’m a grandpa—I like to be in bed by ten. It put into perspective that I’m in a totally different place in life. It would never have worked out. I’d be miserable.”
“Hearing you say that makes me relieved.” Gemma looked away from him. “I wasn’t really a fan of moving to Scottsdale, but I would’ve done it for you.”
“Gemma,” Tim admonished. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t want to plant any seeds in your mind.”
He face-palmed. “I’m regretting that I ever told you I never take the words of my friends or family into consideration when making an important decision.”
“Huh?” She cocked her head to the side.
“That may have been true when I was young and dumb, but it isn’t anymore. The truth is that I do value their opinions. I only told you that when we were at the park so you would be able to make a decision about DOI and your hip that you were satisfied with. I wanted you to be happy.”
“We really need to work on our communication. We’re terrible at telling one another what we really mean.”
“There’ll be plenty of time for that in the future.”
“Yes, there will.” Gemma grinned as they moved to the front of the line.
“Hi there, folks; what can I get you tonight?” the cart vendor asked.
Gemma ordered a hot chocolate and Tim a mulled wine.
“So . . . you have another day off, and I also suddenly have a bunch of free time on my hands. Any ideas?” she asked.
“How do you feel about a visit to New York? It’s the perfect time of year to see the city all decorated and dressed for Christmas,” Tim said.
“I’d say that sounds brilliant. I’ve never been to New York.”
His eyes widened. “You, a world traveler, have never been to New York? I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true. I was supposed to take my first trip to the city with DOI this year, but, uh, that plan’s been tossed into the rubbish bin.”
“Order up!” the vendor called out. “I have a mulled wine and a hot cocoa. Do you want whipped cream on top?”
“Yes please,” Gemma said.
Collecting their drinks, they stepped away from the cart, and continued along the pathway illuminated with life-sized candy canes. As they chatted about New York, Gemma’s heart swelled at the thought of spending an endless amount of time with Tim. The chapter of her life with Dreams on Ice might have come to an abrupt end, but there were still plenty of other things in life to pursue outside of skating.
“If we’re deciding between driving, flying, or taking the train to New York, I vote for the train. Do you think we’d have time to see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall?”
“Yes.” Tim stopped walking. A wide, brimming smile filled his face. “Do you see what I see?”
Following his line of sight, Gemma’s eyes traveled up. “Mistletoe.”
“You know what tradition calls for.”
“A kiss,” she whispered.
Carefully taking hold of Gemma’s drink, he placed it on the ground next to his. Their eyes locked. Her breathing quickened.
Wrapping one arm around her back, he pulled her in closer to his body. “Happy early Christmas, Gemma.” He moved a few stray hairs out from her face and cupped her cheeks. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I love you.”
Gemma’s eyelids fluttered and they kissed, sending shivers down her spine.
Around them, a light dusting of snow began to fall. It was as if she’d stepped into a scene straight out of The Nutcracker. They were transported to a dark, enchanted forest, surrounded by dozens of dancing snowflakes. She could smell the evergreen and the spices of the mulled wine. The holiday music playing in the background changed and she could hear the haunting echo of the celesta.
As they broke apart, Tim didn’t let go. “I love you, too,” she told him.
He traced the outline of her lips with his thumb, seeming to savor the moment before they kissed a second time.
As Gemma stood in Tim’s arms, filled with deep emotions of love, she couldn’t help but feel that they were headed down a path toward finding their own happy endings. It wasn’t a path that needed to be traveled quickly, but one that could be taken at whatever pace they wanted. After all, everything about their relationship was done in their own way in the sloth zone.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Tim pushed Gemma along in a wheelchair decorated to resemble a medieval spinning wheel. “This is hands down the craziest seventy-two hours of my life. I can’t believe we saw Frankie and Charlie medal at Worlds three days ago. Twenty-four hours ago, we had tea with the Duke and Duchess of—” He abruptly cleared his throat, “With David and Clara.”
“What?” She grabbed the paper from Mel’s hands and skimmed its contents. “It is.” She swallowed hard. “That means the company had already made its decision on me before our meeting. Maybe there is a way I can fight this.”
Mel and Fernando nodded.
“It’s worth a shot. I’ll start looking up a couple different lawyers tonight when we get into the hotel,” Mel said.
“Lawyers?”
“Yes. It’s going to take a legal heavyweight to be able to fight a company like DOI,” Mel emphasized.
Gemma could see dollar and pound signs floating in front of her eyes. It would be a long and drawn-out process. Taking a deep breath, she looked at Mel and Fernando. “No, I’m done with DOI. It’s not worth the time, energy, expense, or heartbreak. I doubt it’ll even make a difference. At this point, I’d rather cut my losses, make a clean break, and just figure out what comes next.”
Fernando hugged her tightly. “My little Gemma-rella has grown up. That’s the most adult thing I think I’ve ever heard you say.”
“Are you sure, Gem? You probably won’t be the first or the last person DOI decides to ruthlessly cut like this.” Mel lowered her voice. “There’s definitely something fishy going on behind the scenes. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like this at all.” She pinched her lips together. “It’s my fault you went to see Dr. Zhang. I should go and set the record straight.”
“Mel, I appreciate it, but no. It’s like you said, nothing will change their mind. This is bigger than me.” Gemma took a moment to gather her thoughts. “If you catch word of any other skaters who are put through the same paces as me, let me know and I’ll consider taking legal action, but until we know more, I’d prefer not to do anything else.”
Fernando and Mel promised her that they would.
* * *
Gemma should have been angry, but instead, she found that she was eerily calm. As she walked through the hotel lobby later that evening, the sound of Burl Ives’s classic rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” played over the sound system. White, green, and pink Christmas trees trimmed with colorful lights and baubles filled the space.
As she turned the corner to take the lift to her room, she stopped to admire the sight of families queuing to meet Father Christmas. Children bounced up and down on their toes, anxious for their turn. Seeing the excitement on their little faces instantly lifted her mood. There were at least still some places in the world where magic existed.
Suddenly, there was a gentle tug on one of her sleeves. “Cinderella?” a girl with wide blue eyes asked.
Gemma was still dressed in a light-blue dress with a black jacket thrown over it. She was so distracted, she forgot to change before leaving the arena. She’d have to have somebody sneak this back tomorrow. She couldn’t leave the company any excuse to accuse her of stealing.
Gemma’s heart melted and she knelt down on one knee. “Hi there. What’s your name?”
“I’m Ava.”
“Ava, that’s a lovely name. It sounds like the perfect name for a princess like you.”
The little girl giggled. “I told Mommy that I saw you, but she didn’t believe me. I had to come and tell you that you’re my favorite princess.”
“Well, I’m so happy to hear that.” Noticing suddenly that Ava was alone, she said, “Where is your mum?”
Ava pointed to the end of the queue for Father Christmas. A woman with a rounded belly chatted with another woman with a double stroller ahead of her. She hadn’t noticed that her daughter, who Gemma guessed to be about five years old, had gone missing.
“How about we tell your mum you found me and then maybe we can take a photo together.”
“Yes, princess.”
Holding her hand, Gemma walked Ava over to her mother. “Do you really have glass slippers? Mommy said they’re only make believe.”
“I do, but can you keep a secret?”
Ava solemnly nodded.
“My fairy godmother keeps them for me.”
Her little eyes widened.
“Ava! Did you run off after I told you not to?”
“But Mommy, look, I found Cinderella!”
“I can see that, but it’s more important that you know better than to run off and talk to strangers,” Ava’s mother huffed. Her gaze turned to Gemma. “Thank you for finding her and bringing her back to me. I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”
“She wasn’t,” Gemma promised. “I was just on my way up to my room.”
“We just saw you skate today. You were lovely.”
“Oh, thank you so much.”
“Mommy?”
“Yes, Ava?”
“Can we take our picture together now?”
Ava’s mother shot her a “would you mind” look. Gemma signaled for Ava to come stand next to her.
“On the count of three. One, two, and three.” Her mother took the photo. “What do we say?”
“Thank you!” Ava said, then launched her arms around Gemma’s legs. “Is your prince around here too?”
“Oh, um . . . I don’t know. I’ll have to send one of my mice to see if they can find him.”
Ava giggled again. “Or maybe you can send your fairy godmother.”
“That’s a brilliant idea too.” Gemma winked. “Don’t forget our secret.”
“I won’t.”
Gemma smiled, then turned to Ava’s mother and exchanged a few words with her as the clock in the lobby chimed seven times.
“Wow!” Ava suddenly exclaimed. “Cinderella, is that your carriage? I thought it was made of glass. Can I have a ride? Are the horses really mice?”
The adults both stopped talking. Looking out the front glass doors of the lobby, they noticed a horse-drawn carriage stopping in front. A bride in a flowing white ballgown stepped out, followed by a groom.
“Ava, that’s not hers. Do you see the woman in the wedding gown? She’s getting married.”
Gemma, however, didn’t hear the rest of what was being said. Her attention was focused on the tall man in a tan overcoat and brown hair pulling off a pair of gloves while entering the lobby. Under his other arm, he carried a large bouquet of flowers. He checked his mobile. She’d know him anywhere.
“Tim,” she called out, awkwardly half waving her hand.
His head shot up. Smiling, he returned her wave and walked toward her.
“Boyfriend?” Ava’s mom asked.
Gemma nodded, her eyes not leaving his person. She’d forgotten just how handsome he was. Had it only been a week and a half since she’d last seen him? The overcoat fit his body like a second skin, hugging him in all the right places.
“We won’t keep you, then. It looks like you two have plans. Come, Ava, it’s almost time to meet Santa. Say thank you and goodbye to Cinderella.”
“Bye, princess. And thank you again!” Ava and her mother moved up in line. “Mommy, did you bring the cookies and milk? And my letter?”
“I brought cookies and your letter, but remember, we aren’t giving Santa any milk in case he’s allergic. Don’t forget, last year he told you he was lactose intolerant.”
With each step Tim took, Gemma’s pulse increased. Butterflies fluttered their wings so quickly that it reminded her of performing a spin on the ice.
“Hi,” she managed as he stopped right in front of her. “You’re, er . . . here.”
“These are for you.” Fumbling with flowers, he shoved them in front of him.
Gemma accepted the flowers and sniffed them. “These are stunning. Thank you so much.” They were a bouquet of pink, red, and white roses. The smell reminded her of an expensive bottle of her favorite Jo Malone Red Roses perfume.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see your text message until just now.”
“You just received it?”
He nodded.
“Then how did you know how badly I needed to see you?”
“I didn’t. It’s just a coincidence. I flew into Toledo this afternoon to surprise you.” Tim rubbed the back of his neck. “Watching you this afternoon was the first time I’ve ever seen you skate. What you can do on that tiny metal blade is just amazing! You were hands down the best skater on that ice. I’d planned to meet you at the stage door at the arena, but you never came out.”
“That’s on me.” Gemma’s cheeks warmed. “I had one final treatment with Mel, our PT. I was one of the last skaters to leave. I must’ve just missed you.”
“That’s what I figured when I ran into Fernando. That’s how I knew where to find you.”
Her face fell. “Well, I’m glad you were able to see today’s skate. It was my last.”
“Huh?”
“It’s kind of a long story.” She glanced over her outfit. “Um, tell you what, let me put these flowers in my room and change. I’ll meet you back down here in five minutes.”
“Okay.” Tim nodded. “What do you think about going for a walk? It looked like there were some charming festive lights on Main Street we can check out.”
“I’d like that.”
Rising up onto her toes, she kissed him, then left the room.
Chapter 24
It wasn’t cold enough to snow, but the air was still a brisk chill. Gemma pulled the zipper of her black puffer coat up higher. Despite being from Scotland, and a figure skater, she still would never be a fan of cold weather.
As she walked with Tim through Promenade Park, an area across the street from the hotel, the distant sounds of a brass band playing classic carols filled the air.
“The hotel concierge mentioned that the tree lighting is at nine,” Tim said. “If you can spare some the time, I thought maybe we could stroll past the market stalls, grab a bite to eat, then circle back here to watch it?”
“That sounds brilliant. I’m a free woman. I have all the time in the world.”
“Gemma?”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Dreams on Ice terminated my contract this afternoon.”
He abruptly stopped walking. “What?”
She lowered her chin, staring at the sidewalk. The reality of the situation was beginning to take hold. “I’m a skater who is, in their words, ‘past their prime.’ They don’t have a use for a skater who ‘can’t meet the standards set by the company.’” Saying those words aloud left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“How is it that a person who is only twenty-eight can be past their prime? What cockamamie person told you that?”
“A caseworker from HR.” Gemma sighed. “In a way, she was right. Most skaters peak before they turn eighteen.”
Tim huffed. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. What about people like Frankie and Charlie? They’re not teens. They’re both mature skaters in their early thirties.”
Gemma’s gaze traveled to Tim’s face. The lines around his eyes and brow made him appear more distinguished. He’s kind of adorable when he’s angry on my behalf.
“They’re both an exception to the rule.”
“I don’t understand. You were under a contract with them through the end of the year. It’s the second week in December. How does it make any sense to let you go now? What about giving you notice?”
Gemma explained how the situation had been exacerbated by her visits to Dr. Zhang and how the date on her termination letter had been preset.
“That doesn’t sound right.”
“My friends Mel and Fernando didn’t think so either.”
“Do you want me to phone one of the lawyers the Sloths use? Mike wouldn’t mind. He owes me a favor.”
Gemma shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I’d like to distance myself from DOI as much as possible. I’m angry and beyond frustrated, and it’ll just be easier for me to move on without opening Pandora’s box.”
Tim pinched his lips together and enveloped her in a hug. The scratchy fabric of his overcoat rubbed against her cheeks. “You’re too good of a person.”
As he released her and they continued their walk, the scent of evergreen trees and freshly-roasted nuts filled the air. The enticing smells from a cart selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, and popcorn caught her attention.
“Do you mind if we stop for a hot drink? I need something warm,” she said.
“Whatever my Gemma-rella wishes.”
They joined the queue.
“How did you get extra time off? I thought you had to be back on Monday?”
“I called in a favor from my school principal. He’s subbing for me through Wednesday. Let’s just say, I’ll be heading the event-planning committee for the foreseeable future.”
“The end of the school year will be here before you know it.” Gemma blinked a few times. “Then you’ll be packing everything up and moving to Scottsdale.”
“No, I won’t. I’ll be staying right where I belong . . . in Sequoia Valley.”
Gemma gasped. “But the manager’s job—that’s your dream job, isn’t it?”
“At one point it was.” He shoved his hands into his pocket. “But that ship has sailed. I was about eighty percent sure I didn’t want it. I needed to visit Scottsdale to be totally certain.”
“What tipped you over the edge?”
They advanced a few places in the queue.
“The vibe. It was like I’d entered a time warp. The current group of guys on the team are all young and eager. They wanted to go out every night and stay up into the early hours of the morning. That isn’t my idea of fun. I wanted to go back to the hotel and enjoy a night in. I’m a grandpa—I like to be in bed by ten. It put into perspective that I’m in a totally different place in life. It would never have worked out. I’d be miserable.”
“Hearing you say that makes me relieved.” Gemma looked away from him. “I wasn’t really a fan of moving to Scottsdale, but I would’ve done it for you.”
“Gemma,” Tim admonished. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t want to plant any seeds in your mind.”
He face-palmed. “I’m regretting that I ever told you I never take the words of my friends or family into consideration when making an important decision.”
“Huh?” She cocked her head to the side.
“That may have been true when I was young and dumb, but it isn’t anymore. The truth is that I do value their opinions. I only told you that when we were at the park so you would be able to make a decision about DOI and your hip that you were satisfied with. I wanted you to be happy.”
“We really need to work on our communication. We’re terrible at telling one another what we really mean.”
“There’ll be plenty of time for that in the future.”
“Yes, there will.” Gemma grinned as they moved to the front of the line.
“Hi there, folks; what can I get you tonight?” the cart vendor asked.
Gemma ordered a hot chocolate and Tim a mulled wine.
“So . . . you have another day off, and I also suddenly have a bunch of free time on my hands. Any ideas?” she asked.
“How do you feel about a visit to New York? It’s the perfect time of year to see the city all decorated and dressed for Christmas,” Tim said.
“I’d say that sounds brilliant. I’ve never been to New York.”
His eyes widened. “You, a world traveler, have never been to New York? I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true. I was supposed to take my first trip to the city with DOI this year, but, uh, that plan’s been tossed into the rubbish bin.”
“Order up!” the vendor called out. “I have a mulled wine and a hot cocoa. Do you want whipped cream on top?”
“Yes please,” Gemma said.
Collecting their drinks, they stepped away from the cart, and continued along the pathway illuminated with life-sized candy canes. As they chatted about New York, Gemma’s heart swelled at the thought of spending an endless amount of time with Tim. The chapter of her life with Dreams on Ice might have come to an abrupt end, but there were still plenty of other things in life to pursue outside of skating.
“If we’re deciding between driving, flying, or taking the train to New York, I vote for the train. Do you think we’d have time to see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall?”
“Yes.” Tim stopped walking. A wide, brimming smile filled his face. “Do you see what I see?”
Following his line of sight, Gemma’s eyes traveled up. “Mistletoe.”
“You know what tradition calls for.”
“A kiss,” she whispered.
Carefully taking hold of Gemma’s drink, he placed it on the ground next to his. Their eyes locked. Her breathing quickened.
Wrapping one arm around her back, he pulled her in closer to his body. “Happy early Christmas, Gemma.” He moved a few stray hairs out from her face and cupped her cheeks. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I love you.”
Gemma’s eyelids fluttered and they kissed, sending shivers down her spine.
Around them, a light dusting of snow began to fall. It was as if she’d stepped into a scene straight out of The Nutcracker. They were transported to a dark, enchanted forest, surrounded by dozens of dancing snowflakes. She could smell the evergreen and the spices of the mulled wine. The holiday music playing in the background changed and she could hear the haunting echo of the celesta.
As they broke apart, Tim didn’t let go. “I love you, too,” she told him.
He traced the outline of her lips with his thumb, seeming to savor the moment before they kissed a second time.
As Gemma stood in Tim’s arms, filled with deep emotions of love, she couldn’t help but feel that they were headed down a path toward finding their own happy endings. It wasn’t a path that needed to be traveled quickly, but one that could be taken at whatever pace they wanted. After all, everything about their relationship was done in their own way in the sloth zone.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Tim pushed Gemma along in a wheelchair decorated to resemble a medieval spinning wheel. “This is hands down the craziest seventy-two hours of my life. I can’t believe we saw Frankie and Charlie medal at Worlds three days ago. Twenty-four hours ago, we had tea with the Duke and Duchess of—” He abruptly cleared his throat, “With David and Clara.”
